U.S. patent application number 11/604922 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-29 for roll-up barrier.
Invention is credited to Shu-Chen Cheng.
Application Number | 20080121354 11/604922 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39462454 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080121354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheng; Shu-Chen |
May 29, 2008 |
Roll-up barrier
Abstract
A roll-up barrier has a base, an end cap, a drive shaft
connected between the base and the end cap, a rolling assembly, a
resilient element and a flexible barrier. The end cap has an
arresting mechanism having a control button and an arrestor. The
rolling assembly is mounted rotatably around the drive shaft and
has a rolling bushing. The rolling bushing has an actuator and
multiple one-way arresting teeth. The resilient element provides a
reposition force for rolling back the rolling assembly. The
flexible barrier is mounted retractably around the rolling
assembly. When the control button is pressed and rotated, the
actuator detaches the arrestor from the arresting teeth to allow
rotation of the rolling assembly. When the control button is
released, the arrestor engages the arresting teeth to prevent the
rolling assembly from rotation so the flexible barrier can be
pulled out and held at a desired length.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Shu-Chen; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOPER & DUNHAM, LLP
1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
39462454 |
Appl. No.: |
11/604922 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/290.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/80 20130101; E01F
13/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/290.1 |
International
Class: |
E06B 9/80 20060101
E06B009/80 |
Claims
1. A roll-up barrier comprising: a base having a top surface; an
outer edge; and a connecting tube formed on and protruding up from
the top surface of the base; a drive shaft having; a bottom end
mounted securely in the connecting tube of the base; and a top end;
an end cap mounted securely at the top end of the drive shaft and
having a bottom surface; an outer edge; a connecting tube formed
coaxially on and protruding down from the bottom surface of the end
cap and securely holding the top end of the drive shaft; and an
arresting mechanism mounted in the end cap and having a button
recess formed in the end cap and having an open top and a bottom; a
control button mounted rotatably in the button recess and having a
bottom; and multiple control serrations formed circularly on the
bottom of the control button; a spring mounted under the bottom of
the control button to press the control button up slightly; a limit
slot being curved, formed through the bottom of the button recess
and aligning with the control serrations; and an arrestor being
curved, mounted under the bottom of the end cap, being capable of
moving along a longitudinal direction and having two ends; and a
bottom having a bevel section formed on the bottom of the arrestor;
and a one-way toothed section formed on the bottom of the arrestor
between the bevel section and one of the ends of the arrestor; a
rolling assembly mounted rotatably between the base and the end cap
and having a rolling tube mounted rotatably around the drive shaft
and having an inner surface; an outer surface; a bottom end mounted
rotatably on the base around the connecting tube; and a top end;
and a rolling bushing mounted securely at the top end of the
rolling tube and having a top; a bottom; an outer wall; a
connecting hole formed coaxially through the rolling bushing and
rotatably mounted around the connecting tube of the end cap; an
actuator mounted rotatably on the top of the rolling bushing and
having a top surface; an outer edge; a central hole formed
coaxially through the actuator and mounted rotatably around the
connecting tube of the end cap; a control tooth formed on the top
surface of the actuator, corresponding to the control serrations
and protruding through the limit slot to selective engage the
control serrations; and an actuating lug formed on and protruding
radially from the outer edge of the actuator and having a bevel top
corresponding to the bevel section of the arrestor and selectively
engaging the bevel section to lift up the arrestor; and multiple
one-way arresting teeth formed on the top of the rolling bushing
around the actuator and corresponding to and selectively engaging
the one-way toothed section; a resilient element mounted in the
rolling tube to provide a rotating reposition force to roll the
rolling tube after the rolling tube is rotated; and a flexible
barrier attached to and mounted retractably around the rolling tube
and having a proximal edge attached to the rolling tube; a distal
edge; a bottom edge; and a top edge.
2. The roll-up barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arresting
mechanism further has a receiving recess formed in the bottom
surface of the end cap around the button recess and having an inner
wall; and the arrestor is mounted in the receiving recess and
further has two stop legs formed respectively at the ends of the
arrestor to abut the inner wall of the receiving recess.
3. The roll-up barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient
element is mounted around the drive shaft and has two ends
connected respectively to the drive shaft and the bottom of the
rolling bushing.
4. The roll-up barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base
further has a guide tab formed on and protruding up from the top
surface of the base and mounted around the connecting tube; the end
cap further has a guide tab formed on and protruding down from the
bottom surface of the end cap and mounted around the connecting
tube; the bottom edge of the flexible barrier is guided by the
guide tab on the base; and the top edge of the flexible barrier is
guided by the guide tab on the end cap.
5. The roll-up barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base
further has a base connector mounted detachably on the outer edge
of the base; and the end cap further has an end cap connector
mounted detachably on the outer edge of the end cap.
6. The roll-up barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling
assembly further has a connecting bushing mounted rotatably on the
base around the connecting tube and having a top edge; and a keyway
formed longitudinally through the connecting bushing and
communicating with the top edge of the connecting bushing; the
bottom end of rolling tube is connected securely to the connecting
bushing; the rolling tube further has a mounting groove formed
longitudinally in the outer surface of the rolling tube and
protruding from the inner surface of the rolling tube to form a
longitudinal rib, and the longitudinal rib having a bottom end held
in the keyway in the connecting bushing; and a top end; and a
mounting rod mounted in the mounting groove; the rolling bushing
further has a keyway formed longitudinally in the outer wall of the
rolling bushing and holding the top end of the longitudinal rib;
and the proximal edge of the flexible barrier is attached to the
mounting rod.
7. The roll-up barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible
barrier further has two handles mounted on the distal edge of the
flexible barrier respectively near the top and bottom edges of the
flexible barrier; and two connectors aligning respectively with and
selectively engaging the handles to hold the flexible barrier in an
extended position.
8. The roll-up barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling
bushing further has a connecting ring formed on and protruding from
the top of the rolling bushing around the connecting hole and
having an outer diameter; and the actuator further has an annular
flange formed on and protruding down from the outer edge of the
actuator, mounted around the connecting ring and having an outer
diameter slightly larger than that of the connecting ring to
slightly contact with the connecting ring.
9. The roll-up barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling
bushing further has a connecting ring formed on and protruding from
the top of the rolling bushing around the connecting hole; and the
actuator further has an annular flange formed on and protruding
down from the outer edge of the actuator and mounted around the
connecting ring; and a clipping slot formed radially through the
annular flange and communicating with the central hole in the
actuator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a roll-up barrier, and more
particular to a roll-up barrier that has a flexible barrier can be
pulled out and held at a desired length and can be conveniently
retracted.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A safe zone in which an infant or a pet can play to limit
access to hazardous areas is defined with a temporary barrier or
gate mounted between two walls or in a doorway.
[0005] For make storage convenient, various kinds of roll-up
barriers have been developed. Generally, a conventional roll-up
barrier has a rolling tube, a flexible barrier and a resilient
element. The rolling tube is positioned on a stationary, e.g. a
wall, a doorjamb or the like. The flexible barrier is mounted
around the rolling tube and has a proximal edge and a distal edge.
The proximal edge of the flexible barrier is mounted securely on
the rolling tube. The distal edge of the flexible barrier can be
pulled out to rotate the rolling tube and to be connected to and
positioned on a hook which is mounted on an adjacent stationary,
e.g. a wall, a doorjamb or the like, such that the flexible barrier
can define a safe zone in which an infant or pet can play. The
resilient element is mounted in the rolling tube to provide a
rotating reposition force to roll back the rolling tube after the
rolling tube is rotated, such that the flexible barrier can be
rapidly and conveniently rolled back around the rolling tube.
[0006] However, when the distal end of the flexible barrier is
collided with something or someone, or is pulled or dragged by the
infant or the pet to be inadvertently detached from the hook on the
stationary, the flexible barrier will be entirely retracted back
around the rolling tube. During retraction of the flexible barrier,
retracting force of the moving flexible barrier may hurt the infant
or the pet. Additionally, to pull out the flexible barrier to
reconnect the distal end thereof to the hook on the adjacent
stationary is inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
roll-up barrier to overcome the aforementioned problems of the
conventional roll-up barrier.
[0008] A roll-up barrier has a base, an end cap, a drive shaft
connected between the base and the end cap, a rolling assembly, a
resilient element and a flexible barrier. The end cap has an
arresting mechanism has a bottom, a control button, a spring and an
arrestor. The control button has a bottom and multiple control
serrations formed on the bottom of the control button. The spring
is mounted under the control button to slightly press up the
control button. The arrestor is mounted under the bottom of the end
cap and is capable of moving along longitudinal direction.
[0009] The rolling assembly has a rolling tube and a rolling
bushing. The rolling tube is mounted rotatably around the drive
shaft and has a top end. The rolling bushing is mounted at the top
end of the top end of the rolling tube and has a top, an actuator
and multiple one-way arresting teeth. The actuator is mounted
rotatably on the top of the rolling bushing to engage the control
serrations to rotate simultaneously with the control button when
the control button is pressed down, and to depart from the control
serrations when the control button is released. When the actuator
rotates in a specific direction, the arrestor is lifted up by the
actuator. The one-way arresting teeth are formed on the top of the
rolling bushing around the actuator to engage with the arrestor to
prevent the rolling bushing from rotation when the arrestor moves
down, and to depart from the arrestor to allow rotation of the
rolling bushing when the arrestor is lifted up by the actuator.
[0010] The resilient element is mounted in the rolling tube to
provide a rotating reposition force for rolling back the rolling
tube. The flexible barrier is mounted retractably around the
rolling tube. When the control button is pressed and rotated, the
actuator detaches the arrestor from the arresting teeth and
rotation of rolling assembly is allowed. Such that a user can pull
out or retract the flexible barrier. When the control button is
released, the arrestor engages the arresting teeth and prevents the
rolling assembly from rotation. Such that a desired length of the
flexible barrier can be pulled out and kept in outside of the
rolling tube.
[0011] Accordingly, even if the flexible barrier is inadvertently
detached from a stationary, e.g. a wall, doorjamb or the like, to
which the flexible barrier is attached, the flexible barrier does
not retracted by the resilient element and is still held at the
original length to prevent an infant or the pet from being injured
by the retracting flexible barrier. Additionally, the user can
immediately and conveniently reconnect the flexible barrier to the
stationary.
[0012] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roll-up barrier in
accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the roll-up
barrier in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front view of the roll-up
barrier in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the
roll-up barrier in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a top portion of
the roll-up barrier in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an end cap of the roll-up
barrier in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a front view of an arresting mechanism of the
roll-up barrier in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the arresting mechanism of
the roll-up barrier in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 9 is an operational perspective view of the roll-up
barrier in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 10 is an operational front view of the arresting
mechanism in FIG. 7;
[0023] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a
rolling bushing of the roll-up barrier in FIG. 1; and
[0024] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the
rolling bushing of the roll-up barrier in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a roll-up barrier in accordance
with the present invention comprises a base (30), a drive shaft
(10), an end cap (20), a rolling assembly (40), a resilient element
(11) and a flexible barrier (50).
[0026] The base (30) has a top surface, an outer edge, a connecting
tube (31), an optional guide tab (32), an optional connecting lip
(34) and an optional base connector (33). The connecting tube (31)
is formed on and protrudes up from the top surface of the base
(30). The guide tab (32) is formed on and protrudes up from the top
surface of the base (30) and is mounted around the connecting tube
(31). With further reference to FIG. 3, the connecting lip (34) is
curved, is mounted around the outer edge of the base (30), forms a
curved gap (341) between the outer edge of the base (30) and the
connecting lip (34) and has a proximal end. The proximal end of the
connecting lip (34) is formed on and protrudes radially from the
outer edge of the base (30). The base connector (33) is mounted
detachably on the outer edge of the base (30), attaches to a
stationary, e.g. a wall (not shown), a doorjamb (not shown) or the
like, to hold the base (30) on the stationary and has an inside
surface, multiple optional through holes (331), multiple optional
fasteners (not shown) and an optional connecting groove (330). The
fasteners extend respectively through the through holes (331) and
attach to the stationary to connect the base connector (33) to the
stationary. The connecting groove (330) is formed in the inside
surface of the base connector (33) to selectively hold the
connecting lip (34) of the base to mount the base (30) on the base
connector (33).
[0027] The drive shaft (10) has a bottom end and a top end. The
bottom end of the drive shaft (10) is mounted securely in the
connecting tube (31) of the base (30).
[0028] The end cap (20) is mounted securely at the top end of the
drive shaft (10) and has a bottom surface, an outer edge, a
connecting tube (23), an arresting mechanism, an optional guide tab
(200), an optional connecting lip (201) and an optional end cap
connector (21). The connecting tube (23) is formed coaxially on and
protrudes down from the bottom surface of the end cap (20) and
securely holds the top end of the drive shaft (10).
[0029] With further reference to FIG. 4-6, the arresting mechanism
is mounted in the end cap (20) and has a button recess (216), a
control button (22), a spring (221), a limit slot (215), an
optional receiving recess (212) and an arrestor (24). The button
recess (216) is formed in the end cap (20), has an open top and a
bottom and may communicate with the connecting tube (23) of the end
cap (20). The control button (22) is mounted rotatably in the
button recess (216) and has a bottom, an optional positioning rod
and multiple control serrations (220). The positioning rod is
formed on and protrudes down from the bottom of the control button
(22) and may insert into the connecting tube (23) of the end cap
(20). The control serrations (220) are formed circularly on the
bottom of the control button (22) and may be formed around the
positioning rod.
[0030] With further reference to FIG. 7, the spring (221) is
mounted under the bottom of the control button (22) to press the
control button (22) up slightly and may be mounted around the
position rod of the control button (22).
[0031] The limit slot (215) is curved, is formed through the bottom
of the button recess (216), aligns with the control serrations
(220) and has two ends. The receiving recess (212) is formed in the
bottom surface of the end cap (20) around the button recess (216)
and has an inner wall.
[0032] With further reference to FIG. 8, the arrestor (24) is
curved, is mounted under the bottom of the end cap (20), is capable
of moving along a longitudinal direction, has two ends, a bottom
and two optional stop legs (240) and may be mounted in the
receiving recess (212). The bottom of the arrestor (24) has a bevel
section (241) and a one-way toothed section (242). The bevel
section (241) is formed on the bottom of the arrestor (24). The
one-way toothed section (242) is formed on the bottom of the
arrestor (24) between the bevel section (24) and one of the ends of
the arrestor (24). The stop legs (240) are formed respectively at
the ends of the arrestor (24) to abut the inner wall of the
receiving recess (212) to allow the arrestor (24) to move along the
longitudinal direction.
[0033] The guide tab (200) is formed on and protrudes down from the
bottom surface of the end cap (20) and is mounted around the
connecting tube (23). The connecting lip (201) is curved, is
mounted around the outer edge of the end cap (20), defines a curved
gap (202) between the outer edge of the end cap (20) and the
connecting lip (201) and has a proximal end. The proximal end of
the connecting lip (201) is formed on and protrudes radially from
the outer edge of the end cap (20). The end cap connector (21) is
mounted detachably on the outer edge of the end cap (20), connects
to the stationary to which the base connector (33) is connected to
hold the end cap (20) on the stationary and has an inside surface,
multiple optional through holes (211), multiple optional fasteners
and an optional connecting groove (210). The through holes (211)
are formed transversely through the end cap connector (21). The
fasteners extend respectively through the through holes (211) and
attach to the stationary to attach the end cap connector (21) to
the stationary. The connecting groove (210) is formed in the inside
surface of the end cap connector (21) to selectively hold the
connecting lip (201) of the end cap (20) to mount the end cap (20)
on the end cap connector (21).
[0034] With further reference to FIG. 4, the rolling assembly (40)
is mounted rotatably between the base (30) and the end cap (20) and
has an optional connecting bushing (43), a rolling tube (42) and a
rolling bushing (41).
[0035] The connecting bushing (43) is mounted rotatably on the base
(30) around the connecting tube (31) and has a top edge and a
keyway (431). The keyway (431) is formed longitudinally through the
connecting bushing (41) and communicates with the top edge of the
connecting bushing (41).
[0036] The rolling tube (42) is mounted rotatably around the drive
shaft (10) and has an inner surface, an outer surface, a bottom
end, a top end, an optional mounting groove (421) and an optional
mounting rod (44). The bottom end of the rolling tube (42) is
mounted rotatably on the base (30) around the connecting tube (31)
and may be connected securely to the connecting bushing (41) to
mount the rolling tube (42) rotatably on the base (30).
[0037] The mounting groove (421) is formed longitudinally in the
outer surface of the rolling tube (42) and protrudes in from the
inner surface of the rolling tube (42) to form a longitudinal rib.
The longitudinal rib has a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end
of the longitudinal rib is held in the keyway (431) in the
connecting bushing (41) to securely connect the rolling tube (42)
to the connecting bushing (41). The mounting rod (44) is mounted in
the mounting groove (421).
[0038] With further reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the rolling
bushing (41) is mounted securely at the top end of the rolling tube
(42) and has a top, a bottom, an outer wall (413), a connecting
hole (412), an optional connecting ring (416), an actuator (25,
25'), multiple one-way arresting teeth (415) and an optional keyway
(411). The connecting hole (412) is formed coaxially through the
rolling bushing (41) and is rotatably mounted around the connecting
tube (23) of the end cap (20). The connecting ring (416) is formed
on and protrudes from the top of the rolling bushing (41) around
the connecting hole (412) and has an outer diameter.
[0039] The actuator (25, 25') is mounted rotatably on the top of
the rolling bushing (41), has a top surface, an outer edge, a
central hole, a control tooth (250) and an actuating lug (251) and
may be implemented in several ways. The central hole is formed
coaxially through the actuator (25, 25') and is mounted rotatably
around the connecting tube (23) of the end cap (20). The control
tooth (250) is formed on the top surface of the actuator (25, 25'),
corresponds to the control serrations (220) and protrudes through
the limit slot (215) to selective engage the control serrations
(220).
[0040] With further reference to FIG. 10, when the control button
(22) is pressed down, the control serrations (220) engage the
control tooth (250) such that the control button (22) and the
actuator (25, 25') can be rotated simultaneously along the limit
slot (215).
[0041] The actuating lug (251) is formed on and protrudes radially
from the outer edge of the actuator (25, 25') and has a bevel top
(252). The bevel top (252) corresponds to the bevel section (241)
of the arrestor (24) and selectively engages the bevel section
(241) to lift up the arrestor (24).
[0042] When the actuator (25, 25') is rotated to press the control
tooth (250) against one end of the limit slot (215), the bevel top
(252) engages the bevel section (241) and lifts up the arrestor
(24). When the actuator (25, 25') is rotated to press the control
tooth (250) against the other end of the limit slot (215), the
bevel top (252) departs from the bevel section (241) and lowers
down the arrestor (24).
[0043] With further reference to FIG. 11, in a first embodiment of
the actuator (25), the actuator (25) further has an annular flange
(254). The annular flange (254) is formed on and protrudes down
from the outer edge of the actuator (25), is mounted around the
connecting ring (412) and has a diameter slightly larger than that
of the connecting ring (412) to slightly contact with the
connecting ring. Thus, friction between the annular flange (254)
and the connecting ring (412) can slightly rotate the actuator (25)
when the rolling bushing (41) rotates.
[0044] With further reference to FIG. 12, in a second embodiment of
the actuator (25'), the actuator (25') further has an annular
flange (254') and a clipping slot (253). The annular flange (254')
is formed on and protrudes down from the outer edge of the actuator
(25) and is mounted around the connecting ring (412). The clipping
slot (253) is formed radially through the annular flange (254') and
communicates with the central hole in the actuator (25'). Thus, the
annular flange (254') has a slight resilience to slightly contact
with the connecting ring (412) such that friction between the
annular flange (254') and the connecting ring (412) can slightly
rotate the actuator (25') when the rolling bushing (41)
rotates.
[0045] The one-way arresting teeth (415) are formed on the top of
the rolling bushing (41) around the actuator (25, 25') and
corresponds to and selectively engage the one-way toothed section
(242). When the arrestor (24) is lifted up by the actuating lug
(251) of the actuator (25, 25'), the one-way toothed section (242)
does not engage with the one-way arresting teeth (415) such that
the rolling bushing (41) can rotate relative to the end cap (20).
When the bevel top (252) of the actuating lug (251) departs from
the bevel section (241), the arrestor (24) is lowered down and the
one-way toothed section (242) engages with the one-way arresting
teeth (415). Engagement between the one-way arresting teeth (415)
and the one-way toothed section (242) does not allow the rolling
bushing (41) to rotate relative to the end cap (20).
[0046] The keyway (411) is formed longitudinally in the outer wall
(413) of the rolling bushing (41) and holds the top end of the
longitudinal rib formed by the mounting groove (421) extending into
the rolling tube (42).
[0047] The resilient element (11) is mounted in the rolling tube
(42) to provide a rotating reposition force to roll the rolling
tube (42) after the rolling tube (42) is rotated. The resilient
element (11) may be mounted around the drive shaft (10) and have
two ends. The ends of the resilient element (11) are connected
respectively to the drive shaft (10) and the bottom of the rolling
bushing (41).
[0048] With further reference to FIG. 9, the flexible barrier (50)
is attached to and mounted retractably around the rolling tube (42)
and has a proximal edge, a distal edge, a bottom edge, a top edge,
two optional handles (500) and two optional connectors (51). The
proximal edge of the flexible barrier (50) is attached to the
rolling tube (42) and may be attached to the mounting rod (44)
mounted in the mounting groove (421) in the rolling tube (42). The
bottom edge of the flexible barrier (50) is guided by the guide tab
(32) on the base (30), and the top edge of the flexible barrier
(50) is guided by the guide tab (200) on the end cap (20) such that
the flexible barrier (50) can be pulled out smoothly.
[0049] When the control button (22) is pressed down and rotated to
lift up the arrestor (24), the rolling assembly (40) is allowed to
be rotated such that the flexible barrier (50) can be pulled
out.
[0050] After a desired length of the flexible barrier (50) is
pulled out, the control button (22) can be released to detach the
control serrations (220) from the control tooth (250) and to free
the actuator (25, 25'). Then, the rotating reposition force stored
by the resilient element (11) rolls back the rolling tube (42) and
friction between the actuator (25, 25') and the top of the rolling
bushing (41) slightly rotates the actuator (25, 25') to detach the
bevel top (252) of the actuating lug (251) from the bevel section
(241), such that the arrestor (24) is immediately moved down to
engage the one-way arresting teeth (415) with the one-way toothed
section (242) to prevent the rolling tube (42) from rolling back.
Thus, the flexible barrier (50) can be held at the desired length
that is pulled out.
[0051] After use, the control button (22) can be pressed down and
rotated to lift up the arrestor (24). Then, when the flexible
barrier (50) is released, the rolling tube (42) is rotated by the
rotating reposition force of the resilient element (11) to
retracted the flexible barrier (50) back around the rolling tube
(42), which is convenient to operate.
[0052] The handles (500) are mounted on the distal edge of the
flexible barrier (50) respectively near the top and bottom edges of
the flexible barrier (50).
[0053] The connectors (51) connect to an adjacent stationary, e.g.
a wall, a doorjamb or the like and align respectively with and
selectively engage the handles (500) to hold the flexible barrier
(50) in an extended position.
[0054] When the handles (500) are released from the connectors (51)
and the control button (22) is pressed to ensure the disengagement
between the one-way arresting teeth (415) and the one-way toothed
section (242), potential energy stored in the resilient element
(11) rotates the rolling assembly (40) and retracts the flexible
barrier (50) by rolling the flexible barrier (50) back around the
rolling tube (42).
[0055] When the one-way arresting teeth (415) engage with the
one-way toothed section (242), even though the flexible barrier
(50) is collided with something or someone, or is pulled or dragged
by the infant or the pet to inadvertently detached from the
connectors (51) on the stationary, the flexible barrier (50) will
keep at the original length to prevent the infant or the pet from
injured by the retracting flexible barrier. Additionally, a user is
convenient to immediately engage the handles (500) with the
connectors (51) to reconnect the flexible barrier (50) to the
stationary.
[0056] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *